Harp.



J. O. VARIAN.

HARP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1911.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912,

NVENTOR W/ TNESSES JOHN O. VARIAN, OF PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA.

HARP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led May 10, 1911.

Patented Deo 31,1912.

Serial No. 626,344.

2lb all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN 0. VARIAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Palo Alto, in the county of Santa- Clara and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Harps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in harps.

The invention has for its object the provision of simple means for improving the resonance and tone of t-he instrument.

A further object is to provid-e a harp with two sound boxes provided with sound boards connected at each string by bridge pieces.

A further object is to provide improved means for varying the amount of pressure placed upon the sound board.

A further object is to provide improved means for fastening the strings in posit-ion.

A further object is to strengthen the whole framework by the introduction of back post 15.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a harp constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2 2 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating' the connection between the front and back posts. Fig. 4; is a detail view illustrating the tension rod. Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the connection between the sound post and the sounding box;

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates my improved harp comprising the base 11, the front post 12, the neck 13 and the sounding boxes 14 -united by the back post 15. Located in each sound box is a sound post 19, the inner ends of which engage the back boards of the respective boxes. The outer end of each sound post is provided with a longitudinal opening to receive the smooth end of a compression screw 2O threaded in an opening in the back board. By adjusting the screw 20 the tension on the sound box may be varied to effect a proper interchange of vibrations between the back board and the sound board of each sound box, thereby iinproving the tone of the instrument. The rear edges of the sound boxes are united by the back-post 15 which is preferably made up of a strip 21 wedge-shape in cross section located between the sound boards and run ning the entire length of the latter, a fiat strip extending across the space between the sound boxes and secured to the rear edges of the latterand the rear face of strip 21, said fiat strip being designated by the numeral 22 and finally a third strip 23 secured to the outer face of the strip Q2. In this connection it will be noted that the gra-in of the strips 21 and 28 extends longitudinally of the sound boxes, and the grain of the strip 22 is transversely arranged to the grain of the other strips, thus rigidly uniting the sound boards and reducing the tendency to warp or become distorted. The upper end of the back post is mortised into tre neck at 21 and the lower end is secured to the base as indicated at 25.

The sounding boards of the two sound boxes are connected by bridge pins 26, there being one pin for each string 27, the ends of the pins being let into suitable recesses ZS in the opposing faces of the sounding boards. lThe strings 27 may be passed over the neck of the harp in any suitable or preferred manner, and after their lower ends have been passed around the bridge pins 26 they are projected through openings 29 formed in the various members of the back post 15. 1t will be noted that the opening 29 is laterally inclined and that the strings pass out alternately left and right, as shown in the drawing. 1n order to strengthen my improved harp 1 provide reinforcing strips 30 at the base and embracing the front and back posts and the back post is also provided with a metal backbone 31 provided with a rib 32 mortised into a suitable recess in the strip 28. A tension rod 33 also extends through said strip, and unites the neck 13 with the post 15 and base 25. To improve the resonance of the frame, and also to strengthen the latter a thin steel bolt 31- is brought through the lower end of the back post and around the lower end of the front post by means of a loop, nut being fitted upon said bolt where it projects through the back post. rEhe tension rod 33 is also provided with a tightening nut under the base. By tightening these nuts a great ten: sion is set up in the harp frame, thereby increasing the strength and resonance of t-he latter.

The advantages of my improved harp will be at once apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains. By connecting the strings to the back post after being Q Loser/e passed over the bridge pins I am enabled to arrange the sound boards with the grain of the wood running lengthwise of the sound boxes thereby greatly increasing the resonance of the latt-er resulting in a great improvement in the tone and the taking of all strain ott of the sounding board. It will also be noted in Fig. 1 that the so-und boxes gradually broaden and deepen toward the lower end of the harp.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what I claim is 1. A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes, a back post uniting said sound boxes, and bridge pins also connecting said sound boxes.

2. A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes, and a back post provided with a portion interposed between said sound boxes to unite the latter, said back post being provided with means for securing the ends of the strings.

3. A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes, a back post uniting said sound boxes and provided with means for securing the ends of the strings, and bridge pins also uniting said boxes.

4. A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes each of which is provided with a sounding board, and a baclr post provided with a portion interposed between and engaging said sounding boards to unite said sound boxes, said back post being provided with means for securing the ends of the strings.

5. A harp provided with .spaced apart sound boxes, each including a sounding board, a sound post connecting each sounding board with the back of its sound box, and adjusting means engaging said sound posts to vary the tension on said sounding boards.

6. A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes, each of which is provided with a sounding board, a back post uniting said sound boxes and provided with means for securing the ends of the strings, a sound post connecting each sounding board with the back of its sound box, and means for adjusting the sound posts to vary the tension on said sounding boards.

7. A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes each including a sound board, and means for independently varying the tensions of the respective sound boards.

8. A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes each including a sound board, a sound post connecting each sound board with the back of its sound box, and means for adjusting the sound posts to independently vary the tensions of the respective sound boards.

A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes, and a back post uniting said sound boxes and provided with means for securing the ends of the strings, said back post including a transversely tapered strip extending between said sound boxes.

10. A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes, and a back post uniting said sound boxes and provided with means for securing the ends ot the strings, said back post being constructed of a plurality of strips, one of said strips being provided with a transversely tapered portion extending between said sound boxes.

11. A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes, and a back post uniting said sound boxes and provided with staggered openings to receive the strings.

12. -A harp provided with spaced apartsound boxes, a back post uniting said sound boxes and provided with means for securing the ends of the strings, said back post including a transversely tapered strip extending between the sound boxes, and bridge pins uniting said sound boxes.

13. A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes, a back post uniting said boxes and constructed ot' a plurality ot' strips, and a tension rod extending longitudinally through one of said strips.

14. A harp provided with spaced apart sound boxes, a back post uniting said sound boxes, a tension rod extending longitudinally through said back post, a front post, and a tension bolt passed through said back post and `having a loop portion embracing said front post.

In testimony whereotl I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN O. VAR-IAN. IVitnesses:

IVALTER Itononns, MONROE THOMAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

